25 The inner machination of their minds are an enigma

She tends to be quiet most of the time.

Or at least, it started that way.

For the majority of her travels with her brother, she always let him do the talking. Booking an inn, asking for directions, talking to the shopkeepers, basically anything that involves talking. Not to say that she can't do it, she just couldn't be bothered to. After all, there's no fun to be had. If there is though, well, that's a different story.

Though she likes to think that she's the quiet type, her brother would no doubt vehemently deny her if he knew what she's thinking. After all, her being quiet means that she's just cooking up something in that head of hers. And once she's decided on doing something, even her brother, bless his heart, wouldn't be able to stop her. He'd know. He's tried before.

And he quickly came to the conclusion that it's simply not worth it. Instead of stopping her, he could only sigh and accompany her through whatever bullshit she put them through and made sure that they didn't get arrested, or worse, killed.

They've been through all sorts of shenanigans, no thanks to her tendency to attract trouble. And it only got worse the more they traveled. Her brother would swear up and down that they wouldn't have to go through half the situations they did if she would just shut her mouth.

It could've started as a minor scuffle with some snobby kid, and by the end of it, her brother could only hope that she didn't end up offending the entire kingdom's nobility.

Simply put, if someone else could do it for her, she wouldn't bother doing it herself. Her brother would prefer it this way anyway, if his haunted expression is anything to go by.

Just like how she's letting Yuu and Venti do the majority of the talking right now.

If she's being honest, she stopped paying attention halfway through. She knows she probably should be listening to whatever it is they're saying, and she probably would, if she never met Yuu in the first place.

She's so used to having her brother do this sort of thing for her that she's fallen back to her admittedly bad habit of relying on someone too much.

'It can't be helped. Why does he have to be such a reliable person?'

At first, it was only because she doesn't want to be alone. She did have Paimon, and she's been such a great help and companion, but well… Paimon is Paimon. No offense to the fairy, but she doesn't look reliable at all. It was something that her brother had that she didn't.

Though her initial intention was to have Yuu be somewhat of a replacement for her brother, she genuinely came to like this enigmatic wanderer. She's been slowly testing the waters ever since, and to her delight, he didn't seem to be put off by her advances, even reciprocating them, albeit a bit hesitant at first.

'Now if only this blockhead would man up and confess already.'

She could do it first, not that it'll make a difference. But really, where's the fun in that?

'It's fine. I'm quite patient, after all.'

Her brother would probably disagree though.

The thought of her brother made her sigh. Although she's not as lonely as before now that she has both Paimon and Yuu, it's not easy to fill the hole her brother left in her heart. Sometimes it's hard to even sleep at night with how worried she was about him.

But right now, there's nothing she could do but hope. Hope that her brother is still alive, that he's somewhere out there in Teyvat, just waiting to be found.

"Princess? What's wrong?"

Hearing him call her by that familiar nickname managed to snap her out of her thoughts. Focusing her gaze, she saw Yuu standing in front of her, placing his hand on her face, gently rubbing them with a worried look on his face.

At least she thinks that's the case. She really wished she could take that mask off.

"Yeah. I'm okay.'

"Are you sure?"

"Don't worry." Leaning herself into his touch, she placed her own hand on top of his. "I'll be okay."

Seemingly satisfied with her answer, he nodded, before turning towards Jean. "Will that be all for tonight, Acting Grand Master?"

"Yes. Once again, thank you for your help honorary knights."

Taking hold of her hand, Yuu led her out of the office. Before she left, she saw Venti still inside with Jean. Whatever it is they're talking about, it must be important, she thought.

The walk towards the inn was silent but comfortable. Occasionally, she would run her finger through Yuu's hands, as if to make sure that he's still there.

Clearly, her separation from her brother affected her more than she thought.

Although Yuu didn't say anything, the simple act of returning her gesture was enough for her.

"Just to make sure, princess, did you actually listen to what we were talking about back then?"

"Nope. I had better things to worry about."

"And that would be?"

"I was thinking about how to use that favor you owe me. I wonder what I should make you do, hmm?"

Feeling his body shudder through his hand, she couldn't help but laugh at his apparent dread.

"Please tell me you're not going to make me do something incredibly stupid."

Flashing him a smirk, she had to restrain herself from laughing too loud. "Don't worry, I wouldn't do that." With a bit of a spring in her step, she led him by the hand. "Nothing too bad, promise."

"Coming from you, that's not reassuring at all."

Entering the inn, the two of them greeted the receptionist before climbing the stairs towards their respective rooms.

"Well, since you're not listening, here's the gist of it: we'll meet at Angel's Share tomorrow morning." Opening his bag, he fumbled through several times before grabbing his room key. "The Acting Grand Master will be joining us this time, alongside a former member of the knights."

"Who are they?"

"Diluc Ragnvindr, a nobleman, owner of the Dawn Winery and, by extension, Angel's Share."

"A former knight turned businessman?" She couldn't help but whistle in amazement. "I wonder why he left? But more importantly, he must be crazy rich, right?"

"We are not robbing him."

"Tch." Clicking her tongue in disappointment, she followed him into his room and collapsed face first on his bed. "Come on, Yuu! Think about the Mora!"

"If you want to rob something so bad, try the Northland Bank. They're owned by the Fatui, so I don't care if you somehow manage to empty their vault or something." Feeling the extra weight on the bed, she lifted her head, seeing Yuu sitting next to her. "Hell, I don't even care if you ended up burning that place to the ground."

"Wow, you must really hate the Fatui, huh?"

"Hate is a strong word. I prefer intense dislike."

Putting her head back down, she was just about to relax when she felt his hand on her shoulders. "What do you think you're doing?"

"Sleeping?"

"In my room?"

"Yep."

Even without looking at him, she could just feel the irritation creeping up his face.

"Please go back to your own room, princess. I don't want to sleep with my mask on."

"Aha, so you don't mind me sleeping here, huh?"

"I will neither confirm nor deny that statement."

Rolling herself upwards, she sat up before placing her head on his shoulder. "Relax, Yuu. Look." With a wave of her hand, a sleeping mask suddenly appeared. "I can use this, and you'll be a-okay."

Feeling his hand rubbing his back, the smile on her face widened just a bit more. "A sleeping mask that you can take off anytime you want. I'm not buying it, princess."

"Trust me." Taking his face in her hand, she looked straight into the slit of his mask. "Trust me like I trust you back at the cliff."

Though it was a bit cheap of her, she really hopes he can trust her. After all, a relationship without trust will not last long.

After stewing on it for some time, he relaxes himself into her touch and lets out a sigh.

"Fine. Just… put it on."

Letting out a silent cheer in her head, she put on the sleeping mask, lifted his hat and placed it on the nightstand, before dragging him inside the blanket next to her, laying the both of them sideways and nuzzling her head on his chest.

"Hmm, much better."

"Sigh. I'm trusting you princess. Don't make me regret it."

She couldn't help but giggle. Despite his reluctance, he always ended up indulging her. Something that she's taken advantage of time and again. "Of course! You have nothing to worry about."

"Oh I have plenty to worry about when it comes to you."

Feeling the wanderer's hand shifting slightly and reaching behind her, she heard the click of the mask hitting the nightstand. Reaching up from his back, she kneaded her hand gently all over his face, trying to deduce how he looked just from the contour alone.

"Is there even a point princess? Like I've told you before," running his own hands through her hair, he gently brushed them aside, "I am objectively good-looking."

"Your objectivity is undoubtedly laced with subjectivity."

"Surely not." She loved hearing him laugh like this. He should let loose a bit more, she thought. "And what do you think?"

"What do I think, huh?" Using her hand as her guide, she crawled towards him, moving her face closer to the point that they could feel each other's breath. "Do you know what I think?"

"...what?"

Hearing the nervousness coming from his voice, she couldn't help but smile. Despite how reliable he is, she's reminded once again that he's not used to these things. He's getting better, if his recent interaction with her is any indication, but sometimes it seems as if he's afraid.

Afraid of overstepping boundaries? Maybe. He rarely ever initiates physical contact without her prompting him. But is that all there is to it, or is there something more?

'Slow and steady, Lumine. You'll get there when you get there.'

Touching the tip of their nose together, she didn't miss the hitch in his breath. "I think that you deserve a little something for putting up with little old me."

"...so you're admitting that you are old?"

"Shut up!" The light slap she gave him ended up breaking him out of his nervousness. Once again, she enjoyed the laughter coming from him. The upturning of his cheek, the slight vibration from his mouth, she felt it all, never once letting go of her hands.

When the laughter died, she could feel him relaxing a bit more, surrendering himself to her touch. "You were saying, princess?"

Slightly miffed at the interruption, she put on a pouting face that even she had a hard time believing was real. "Hmph, it's rude to interrupt when the princess talks, you know? I'm pretty sure that counts as lèse-majesté in the royal court."

"Oh no." He said, with fear so fake even a child could tell. "I wonder how the princess would punish this lowly servant?"

"This." Unable to hold back the giddiness in her heart, she placed a gentle kiss on his cheek.

Though this is not her first time doing something like this, the familiar warmth coursing through her body, the soaring of her heart, the happiness clouding her mind, brings with it a certain kind of joy she couldn't quite describe.

A confirmation that what she feels for this person is, in fact, love.

'Love… when was the last time I felt something like this?'

She'd come to a realization once upon a time. She was a traveler at heart, and she is different from a regular human being.

Her natural longevity means that she'd outlive the people she met during her travels. Her constant traveling certainly didn't really help either.

The first time she found love, she cherished it, more than anything at that time. So many firsts, she experienced it alongside her lover together, happy beyond belief. She even pleaded with her brother to postpone their departure. Naturally, he agreed. If he didn't, well, she has her ways.

Unfortunately, she couldn't run away from the truth.

While she remained youthful throughout, he slowly aged, eventually being too old to even keep up with her.

She loves him still, despite his condition. No matter what, he is the person she loves, that was her thought at the time.

His death couldn't have hit her harder.

At the time, amidst the mourning, she realized their difference quite clearly. He was a mortal while she was akin to a goddess. And a goddess would no doubt outlive the mortals, no matter how much she denies it.

She cried and cried, until there were no more tears left in her.

Her brother was always there by her side to comfort her. He experienced this before, after all. Back then, though she could sympathize with his sadness, she couldn't quite understand.

She did now.

And how she wishes she didn't.

Despite that, she never did stop falling in love. She met a lot of people in her travels, it was inevitable that someone would catch her fancy.

Eventually though, it became too much. Though some were long-living just like her, she had to leave them eventually. That's just how she is. She knew that it would end up like this, yet she couldn't help herself.

No longer would she fall in love. That's what she promised to herself.

In the end, she was never able to control how she felt towards other people. So it happened all over again. This time, though, she did something a bit different.

She chose to delude herself.

It's not love, she said. The two of us just hit it off really well, there's nothing beyond that. She would convince herself over and over that that's the case, no matter how wrong she was. Because if she didn't, she wasn't sure her heart could take it anymore.

It was horrible, and she knew that.

Yet, she couldn't stop.

The least she could do was to make them happy. Fill their life with delightful memories, even if she ended up having to cut them short.

And at this moment, she was entangled with an emotion she swore herself off of.

Love.

Something sweet. Something oh so comfortable and familiar. Something she came to fear.

Yet here she was, bottled feelings came bursting forth at this one moment, for the person that managed to break down the walls she's built. The loneliness she felt from having her brother taken away from her certainly didn't help. Whichever was the case, she really didn't care. Not anymore.

She stopped deluding herself, and embraced an emotion once forgotten.

Though the kiss was but a moment, it felt like an eternity to her.

Pulling herself away from him, she let out a contented sigh, the smile on her face as wide as can be. "How's that?"

"..."

"Yuu?"

"Uh… it was…." Their faces still in close proximity, she touched his forehead with hers, running her hand through his short hair, waiting for him to continue.

"It was?"

"Um… not quite what I was expecting?"

"Ara, were you perhaps expecting something else?" With one finger tracing his lips, she couldn't resist teasing him. "Something involving this?"

"Uhhh… no comment?"

Laughing at his deflection, she couldn't resist kissing his cheek once more, before putting her arm around his chest and snuggling herself closer to him.

"You can be so silly sometimes."

Feeling his warmth on her, she felt as if an invisible weight had disappeared. She felt that, for the first time since she's awakened, she could truly relax.

"Goodnight, Yuu."

Hearing no response, she couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed. Was she being too hasty? Did she come off a bit forceful?

The moment he hugged her closer, and feeling the weight of his head on top of hers, any doubt on her mind was cleared away.

What he did next was something she didn't expect though.

Feeling the weight disappear for a moment, he placed a gentle kiss on the crown of her head, before laying his head back on top of hers. "Sweet dreams, princess."

Trying her best to calm her beating heart, she surrendered herself to him and closed her eyes.

What happened at this moment, was something she would treasure for the rest of her life.